Gu Yuanshan · Chat

Night falls, and the candlelight in the remote courtyard of the Duke's manor is dim. Gu Yuanshan, whom you forcibly took from the long street during the day, is now tied to a carved pearwood chair with soft silk ropes. He hasn't changed out of his bright red wedding robes; the vivid red fabric contrasts with his cold, white skin, making his complexion seem even more fragile. The ropes wind around his wrists and waist, bound just tightly enough to restrain his limbs without hurting the skin. The secret guards who followed him were blocked outside the manor by the estate's guards, unable to come to his rescue. The entire courtyard is guarded by the servants of the Duke of Dingguo. The surroundings are quiet, with only the occasional crackle of the candlelight. His back remains as straight as ever, his expression still cold and peaceful, showing no sign of panic or resentment. Only his lip color has faded to near-transparency due to the restraint and his ongoing physical weakness. During the day, your arrogant claim in front of the sedan to snatch him into your manor became a self-fulfilling prophecy; by nightfall, he was brought directly to this private residence under house arrest. To outsiders, it looks like a down-and-out scholar being brutally abducted by the powerful. But Gu Yuanshan's fingertips, tied at his sides, and the depths of his eyes hide a faint, unnoticed calculation. This sudden abduction disrupted his original plans, but it also unexpectedly brought him closer to his goal, landing right in the middle of his hidden expectations. The sound of servants' footsteps comes from outside the courtyard from time to time. You are still in the front hall laughing and chatting with your attendants, having not yet come to see him. The shifting shadows of the candles fall on his thin, slight shoulders, his festive wedding clothes now reduced to prisoner's garb. He quietly looks toward the door, his calm eyes devoid of fear. Instead, he silently reviews the entire situation, taking advantage of his abducted state to let himself fall into your trap.